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Knowledge Is Power

Author: Larry Bartley

I live in the northern most region of the Texas Hill Country. I spend a lot of time building websites and blogging about the favorite things in my life. These include but are not limited to- food, wine, travel, lodging, real estate, entertainment, and events in the Texas Hill country.

These are truths that the Democrats and mainstream media don’t want to reveal because it doesn’t fit their gun control agenda.

There are 30,000 gun related deaths per year by firearms, and this number is not disputed. U.S. population 324,059,091 as of Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Do the math: 0.000000925% of the population dies from gun-related actions each year. Statistically speaking, this is insignificant! What is never told, however, is a breakdown of those 30,000 deaths, to put them in perspective as compared to other causes of death:

• 65% of those deaths are by suicide which would never be prevented by gun laws
• 15% are by law enforcement in the line of duty and justified
• 17% are through criminal activity, gang and drug-related or mentally ill persons – gun violence
• 3% are accidental discharge deaths

So technically, “gun violence” is not 30,000 annually, but drops to 5,100. Still too many? Well, first, how are those deaths spanned across the nation?

That means 25% of all gun crime happens in just 4 cities. All 4 of those cities have strict gun laws, so it is not the lack of law that is the root cause.

This leaves 3,825 for the entire rest of the nation or about 75 deaths per state. That is an average because some States have much higher rates than others. For example, California had 1,169 and Alabama had 1.

So who has the strictest gun laws by far? California, of course, so why are there so many gun deaths there. It’s because of the number of criminal persons residing in those cities and states. So if all cities and states are not created equal, then there must be something other than the tool causing the gun deaths.

Are 5,100 deaths per year horrific? How about in comparison to other deaths? All death is sad and especially so when it is in the commission of a crime. Robbery, death, rape, assault all are committed by criminals so thinking that criminals will obey laws is ludicrous. That’s why we call them criminals.

But what about other deaths each year?

• 40,000+ die from a drug overdose–THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT!
• 36,000 people die per year from the flu, far exceeding the criminal gun deaths
• 34,000 people die per year in traffic fatalities(exceeding gun deaths even if you include suicide)

Now let’s talk about hospitals:

• 200,000+ people die each year (and growing) from preventable medical errors. You are safer in Chicago than when you are in a hospital!
• 710,000 people die per year from heart disease but we don’t hear any cries to outlaw double cheeseburgers!

So what’s my point? If Obama, Hillary, and the rest of the anti-gun movement focused their attention on heart disease, even a 10% decrease in cardiac deaths would save twice the number of lives annually of all gun-related deaths (including suicide, law enforcement, etc.). A 10% reduction in medical errors would be 66% of the total gun deaths or 4 times the number of criminal homicides……Simple, easily preventable 10% reductions!

So you have to ask yourself, in the grand scheme of things, why the focus on guns? It’s pretty simple.:
Taking away guns gives control to governments.

The founders of this nation knew that regardless of the form of government, those in power may become corrupt and seek to rule as the British did by trying to disarm the populace of the colonies. It is not difficult to understand that a disarmed populace is a controlled populace.

Thus, the second amendment was proudly and boldly included in the U.S. Constitution. It must be preserved at all costs.

So the next time someone tries to tell you that gun control is about saving lives, look at these facts and remember these words from Noah Webster:

“Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, because the whole body of the people are armed and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States. A military force at the command of Congress can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power.”

Remember, when it comes to “gun control,” the important word is “control,” not “gun.”

Sunday Morning around 9 O’clock, I witnessed a humbling illustration of human suffering which at first glance looked like homeless people in a food line. I was startled by what I saw but the full impact didn’t really hit me until I returned home last night and started trying to describe to my wife what I actually saw. This morning I did a little research into it and was actually pretty surprised to find out this was an ongoing monthly function of a primarily agnostic/atheist group. Turns out They weren’t handing out food but other essential day to day needs of homeless people. Although I was actually stopped at the traffic light at 7th street and the I35 frontage road when I observed it, I wasn’t “quick thinking” enough to snap my own picture(s) but I borrowed these images from the folks at AustinHumanistAtWork.org. I’m sure they won’t mind me sharing their story here since I’m giving them a plug.

From information on their website, I gathered that the group was formed around 2009 under the original name of “Austin Atheists Helping the Homeless”. Soon after the group formed, its volunteer base began to expand to include agnostic, secular, freethinkers and even a few theists. As the group began to include volunteers outside the Atheist community they chose a little a more diverse name for themselves.

I had remarked to my wife “there must have been at least a couple hundred people in line” but according to the official count on their website, 219 people were served that day. The image below depicts the types of essentials being handed out by this organization and ranges from toothpaste and sunscreen to socks, underwear, backpacks and emergency solar blankets. Visit THIS LINK for a current list of the items they do and do not accept for donations. They also maintain an Amazon wish list which they keep updated with current needs. The Austin Humanists at Work organization is NOT currently approved as a 501(c)(3) designated organization so your monetary donation cannot be tax deductible at this time.

To me, something just seems out of place here. For months, hundreds of NFL players have insulted me and most of the people I know by refusing to honor our National Anthem, our flag, and the American dream that’s taken them where they are today. They’ve been spitting in the faces of the fans that pay them millions of dollars a year and on the graves of the brave men and women who gave their lives to protect their freedom to “do what they do”. Through all of this, the owners and executives in the NFL have pretty much supported the players’ rights to “express themselves”. Now, this Cam Newton guy made just 1 unpremeditated derogatory remark to 1 female and the whole NFL world has gone bat s@#t, upside down crazy because of his “unacceptable and reprehensible” behavior. While I would certainly agree it’s “unacceptable and reprehensible” behavior, Why is the other situation not?

And now there’s this whole Harvey Weinstein/Lisa Bloom thing. Talk about an upside down mess. I didn’t even know who these people were until I started hearing the buzz yesterday and I researched a little. In case YOU don’t know, Harvey Weinstein is an Academy Award-winning movie mogul who’s apparently been molesting his women employees for over 30 years and everybody “knew about” it. Lisa Bloom is an attorney who’s claim to fame has been representing women who’ve been abused by people like Harvey Weinstein. Now She’s had a change of heart and she’s defending Harvey Weinstein. There’s more folks- Remember all the Hollywood celebrities that were so outraged over Trump grabbing a woman “you know where” are all 100% defending Harvey Weinstein behavior. Can anyone explain to me how people can reconcile their values in these situations?

Thank you all for your support! If you want to continue to support my effort to create MORE political parodies calling out FAKE NEWS and supporting President Trump PLEASE go to my new Patreon site where you can contribute as little as pennies to help me continue my efforts!

In an unexpected reversal of opinions and a blatant display of hypocrisy, many liberals are now beginning to exhibit fear and concern at the possibility of being taken over by the government. In light of the recent election, many have decided that the 2nd amendment isn’t so bad after all but feel overwhelmed with the buying choices available in American gun shops. Because most of them have shunned firearms their entire life and are terrified of things such as loud noises and recoil, www.BearingArms.com is showing them some love and offering a little support. This article is a beginner’s guide to entry-level firearms and a few tips to help calm the apprehensions of first time gun buyers. The article also offers tips for dealing with the anxiety liberals will likely experience when leaving the previously safe confines of their picket lines outside and actually venturing inside a gun store for the first time.